National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Nano-scale ordering may be revealed in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by at least three techniques that will be presented in this work: selected area electron diffraction, conventional TEM and high-resolution TEM. Digital image processing is used to extract additional information from the high-resolution micrographs. The described methods are illustrated in a microstructural and compositional study of a 90%Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-10%PbTiO2 ceramic sample. High-resolution images reveal the presence of ordered compositional nano-domains, observable in two specific crystallographic orientations. Antiphase boundaries lying in the (111) planes separate them, while (100) and (111) facets separate the ordered domains from the disordered matrix.

In this work we report the synthesis and characterization of the polypyrrole - porous silicon nanocomposites. Our main goal is to control the growth of conducting polypyrrole into the alveolar pores of porous silicon, in order to get a functionalized nanocomposite with the required properties for application as electrode in microfluidic devices. Porous silicon was electrochemically etched from (100) p-type silicon wafers. Different silicon resistivities (from 1.8 to 11 Omega cm) and preparation conditions (different electrolyte concentrations and current densities) were used. The electrodeposition of polypyrrole into porous silicon was carried out galvanostatically, at a constant current density 2.5 mA/cm(2) from a solution containing acetonitrile, the monomer, pyrrole and p-toluensulfonic acid as electrolyte. The polymerization time was varied in order to investigate the growing process of polypyrrole into the pores. The morphology and of the as-prepared nanocomposites was investigated by SEM. The existence of PPY into porous silicon is evidenced by the EDX spectra of the nanocomposite. The electrical characterization evidences the relative contributions of the polypyrrole and the substrate resistivity, respectively.

We have measured the vortex melting lines of high-pressure-synthesized Ba2Ca3Cu4O8(O1-yFy)(2) (nominal composition, 2y = 1.3, 1.6 and 2.0) F(2y)-0234 multilayered high-T-c superconductor using fundamental and third harmonic susceptibility responses carried out on preferentially oriented crystallites with very low ac field amplitude (5 mu T) and in applied dc fields up to 6 T. The vortex melting lines of all three F-substituted samples show interesting doping dependence and are very well described by the commonly accepted theory of melting lines. Interestingly, we discovered that the models describing the temperature dependence of the in-plane London penetration depth also depend on the doping level: the 3D XY model for the nearly-optimum-doped sample [F(1.3)], the mean-field theory for the under-doped sample [F(1.6)] and the two-fluid model for the heavily-under-doped sample [F(2.0)]. We found that the vortex melting lines in F-0234 are determined by the interplay in the coupling of pancake vortices through the charge reservoir layer (CRL), and through the block of inner CuO2 planes (IPs), respectively. The anisotropy values (47 for the near-optimally-doped sample) derived from experimental vortex melting lines are consistent with the values obtained by first-principles electronic-band-structure calculations.

The paper reports the computer simulation of nanoparticle formation based on classical homogenous condensation theory with the purpose of understanding nanoparticle formation and the dependence of their size distribution on process parameters. The simulation has been performed for the case of silicon. The process of condensation with the formation of clusters due to the high cooling speed (similar to 10(4)-10(5) K/s) is considered.

Water-soluble gold nanoparticles, capped with captopril, have been synthesized and characterized. Their average size is 2.3 nm, with a spherical shape. These gold nanoparticles can be easily labeled with stable free radicals (4-amino-tempo) by a coupling reaction performed in the presence of 2-ethoxy-1-ethoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ). Both synthesized and spin-labeled gold nanoparticles can be incorporated into much bigger (100 nm) silica nanoparticles using the Stober method, thus forming hybrid metal (gold)-inorganic (silica) nanoparticles. These hybrid silica nanoparticles (containing or not spin-labeled gold nanoparticles) can be easily spin-labeled with another stable free radical (4-isocyanato-tempo), leading to the formation of a double spin-labeled material. In this way, some stable free radicals are attached on the gold surface while others are attached on the silica surface. Three types of EPR spectra were recorded and discussed for the hybrid gold-silica nanoparticles: (1) where the spin labels are attached to the embedded gold nanoparticles, (2) where the spin labels are attached to the silica nanoparticles, and (3) in the case of the double spin labeled material where both gold and silica nanoparticles are spin-labeled. Influence of different solvents on the EPR spectra is also discussed.

Fe3O4 colloids modified by the chiral ligand cinchonidine were prepared with the goal of obtaining a magnetic and catalytic nano-material and were subsequently embedded in silica to form a heterogeneous catalyst. The systems were characterized by TEM and XRD measurements, while the Mossbauer technique was applied for measuring the magnetic properties of the Fe3O4 colloids. The hyperfine magnetic field distribution was consistent with one type of Fe oxide, namely, the magnetite (Fe304). These colloids, both as 'quasi-homogenous catalysts' (or soluble heterogeneous catalysts) and embedded in silica (heterogeneous catalysts) were employed in the selective hydrogenolysis of complex bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-enes (bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-enes when unsubstituted). (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The compounds YNi(4-x)Al(x)Mg with 0 <= x <= 1.5, crystallizing in the C15 structure type (MgCu(4)Sn-type), have been elaborated by mechanical milling and a subsequent heat treatment at 650 degrees C for 1 h. It was possible to synthesize the compounds YNi(4-x)Al(x)Mg with x up to approximately 1.15 and the lattice parameters was in good agreement with those already reported. All the samples, excepting the YNi(4)Mg compound, absorbed and desorbed hydrogen reversibly and no structural change is reported after the hydrogenation. A direct relationship between the lattice parameters and the equilibrium plateau pressure was found. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Abrikosov lattice in the multilayer cuprate superconductor CuBa2Ca3Cu3Oy (Cu-1223) has been experimentally and theoretically demonstrated to be composed of vortex molecules. Cu-1223 is considered to be a typical multicomponent superconductor. We show that in such a system the rotational freedom around the axis of the vortex molecular tube generates orientational disorder and the orientational glass (or crystal) phase, which is never present in conventional vortex lattices consisting of axisymmetric vortices. The emergence of the orientational glass phase and orientational order phase with orthorhombic distortion is a general property of vortex molecule lattices of the multiband type of multicomponent superconductors.

Calcium phosphate compounds have been studied for biomedical applications due to chemical and structural similarity to the mineral phase of bone and tooth. The composition, physico-chemical properties, crystal size and morphology of synthetic apatite are extremely sensitive to preparative conditions and sometimes it resulted into non-stoichiometric calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders. The present paper describes the synthesis of calcium phosphate ceramics powders via a sol-gel method, The powders were sintered at 600 and 800 degrees C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) were used for characterization and evaluation of the phase composition, morphology and particle size of samples, The functional group of the coatings were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The XRD analysis revealed a well crystallized HA structure at both temperatures. At 800 degrees C a small amount of CaO (about 0.4%) was detected. The mean crystallite size, determined from the breadth of the diffraction lines, increases from 30 nm at 600 degrees C to about 110 nm at 800 degrees C. FTIR spectra showed the presence of various PO43- and OH- groups present in the powders. Osteoblast cells were used to determine cell proliferation, viability and citotoxicity after interaction with the prepared bioceramics, by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a tetrazole) assay. We note that the viability of HAp-600 starts to decrease after 12h, while the viability of HAp-800 decreases after 6h.

The paper reports the application of a new method combining the Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition with the Fluidized Bed Reactor principles for the production of carbon nanotubes on powdered catalysts. An argon plasma beam injected with acetylene in presence of hydrogen was used as fluidized environment for targeting, smashing and mixing the catalytic powder located on the bottom of a cylindrical quartz reactor. The described technique generated plate-like or fibrous like carbon nanostructures on fine Fe particles and carbon nanotubes with 5-10 nm diameters on Fe supported ZSM-5 zeolite.